Agent Sasha Baranov has now revealed that new Arsenal signing Jakub Kiwior waited for a transfer from Spezia to AC Milan. But when Mikel Arteta called, it was hard to then say no.
Arsenal brought Kiwior to the Premier League from Serie A in January for an initial £17.5m, plus £3.5m in add-ons. The 22-year-old also signed a contract to June 2027 with the option for a further year. He improves Arteta’s defensive options as the Spaniard targets the title.
Kiwior now provides Arteta with a left-footed centre-half at Emirates Stadium who will act as cover for Gabriel Magalhaes. The nine-cap Poland international can also feature at left-back and as a holding midfielder. Only Gabriel is also left-footed among the club’s centre-halves.
Arteta played a key role in Arsenal’s efforts to clinch Kiwior’s transfer from Spezia. Another of the defender’s agents, Rafal Kedzior, revealed how the Gunners boss ‘enchanted’ Kiwior with his knowledge about the Tychy-born enforcer and his vision for him in north London.
Arsenal also beat out a host of rival clubs to secure a transfer with Spezia for Kiwior during January. TuttoMercatoWEB reports that the Aquilotti had rejected bids from Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Brentford, Leicester City and RB Leipzig before they took the Gunners’.
Agent Baranov claims Kiwior ‘waited’ for a rival move before his transfer to Arsenal
Borussia Dortmund were the biggest threat to Arsenal’s pursuit after offering Spezia €22m (£19.5m), also per TuttoMercatoWEB. But Baranov has now revealed that all of Italy’s elite clubs expect from Inter Milan sought to sound out the conditions for a move over January.
Yet Napoli did not advance their interest with the Azzurri leading Serie A. They now have a 13-point advantage at the top of the table after 20 games. While Juventus could not make a move during the winter sales and Kiwior’s preferred destination, AC Milan, remained behind.
“In Italy, all the important clubs except Inter have expressed their interest – Napoli, Milan and Juventus,” he revealed, via Calciomercato. “Due to the current situation, Napoli didn’t need to change the team in January. They wanted to bring the matter to the summer.
“Juventus, you know what happened and Milan, he waited. Then you know what happens when Premier teams arrive. We thought the boy deserved an important team. With all due respect to Bologna, the boy couldn’t go to a team like Bologna.
“When Arsenal arrives, it becomes difficult for a 22-year-old boy to say no. If it had been Juventus or another team, it might have been the same. But Arsenal are the team that has gone further in the discussions.”
Kiwior is yet to make his debut for Arsenal after only watching their FA Cup defeat away to Manchester City from the bench. He could now make a Premier League squad for the first time at Everton on Saturday. While he left Spezia after 17 Serie A appearances this season.
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